Electric switch.



F. BARR. ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 2, 1912.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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WITNESSES F. BARR. ELEOTRIG SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 2, 1912.

2 SHEBTS-SHEBT I.

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WITNESSES INVENTOR W FreJezuld B qrr,

ATTORNEY Patented Aug, 18, 1914.

FREDERIC BAR-R, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

Application filed. August 2, 1912. Serial No. 712,855.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Fnnnnmo BARR, a citizen of the United States of America, and residing at New York, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to pendant pull switches although it will be obvious that certain features of construction are applicable to other types.

The main object is to provide a simple, inexpensive and reliable mechanism.

Briefly considered the invention contemplates a pendant socket in which the insulating block carrying the switch mechanism is in one piece and the parts are so constructed and arranged that they can be readily manufactured and assembled and disassembled when desired. The switch contacts are completely insulated from the outside shell and the pull chain or operating cord is also insulated.

Among other details of improvements illustrated are the following. The insulating lining in the cap is secured in place by small rivets. is semi-cylindrical in form and provided with a flange which covers. the top of the mechanismwhen the cap is removed and which assists in positioning the block. The chain guide is formed of porcelain or similar suitable insulating material and is-interlocked with the switch block so that the two parts are relatively held in position.

The switch block and the shell are provided with cooperating slots and lugs for assisting in holding the-parts in their proper relative position. The oscillating operating member has slightly yielding portions and the switch block has integral shoulders to cooperate with the yielding portions of the operatin member to serve as stops to limit the oscillation of the operating member. The switch block is provided with a flange which assists in-preventing the chain from being accidentally disengaged from the operating member. Thespring is-preferably.

a, tapered or conical helix. The switch mechanism is preferably double break and the circuit terminals are preferably arranged on opposite sides of the semi-cylindrical insulating block. The flange of the The insulating switch blockoperating member has two angular portions arranged to prevent accidental disengagement of the operating chain. The insulating switch block or porcelain, as such structures are commonly termed, is so designed that it may be made inexpensively.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred form and one modification in the accompanying two sheets of drawings.

' Figure 1, is a vertical section and what may be termed the front elevation of a pendant pull socket switch embodying the preferred form of my invention, Fig. 2, is a side elevation of the socket, a part of the cap being broken away'to show the upper edge of the body of the shell. Fig. 8, is a plan view of the device with the cap removed. Fig. 4:, is a side elevation and vertical sectional view of the switch insulating block and switch mechanism onthe plane of the line X X of Fig. 1. Fig. 5, is a side view of the chain guide. Fig. 6, is a perspective view'of the front of the insulating switch block. Fig. 7, shows detail views of the stationary and rotatable switch contacts. Fig. 8, is a perspective'view of the oscillating operating member. Fig. 9, is a rear view of the insulating switch block, Fig. 10, is a detail rear view of the rear circuit terminal. Fig. 11, is a vertical sectional view and side elevation showing modifications of details.

The shell may be formed for instance, of metal consisting of the body 1 whose upper edge telescopes with the lower edge of the cap 2. The twoparts of the shell are provided with suitable interlocking mechanism suclnfor instance, as the outwardly projecting shoulder 3 and inwardly directed flange 1- respectively for interlocking against longitudinal separation and with suitable interlocking means (Fig. 2) for preventing relative rotation of the two parts of the shell such as notches 1 and one or more '10 and 11 seated in recesses 12 and 13 and secured to the circuit terminals by screws 14 and 15 respectively passing through the holes 16 and 17 in the porcelain. The rotatable switch contact 18' has two spring arms and is preferably detachably carried by the insulating disk 19 made for instance of porcelain and mounted to rotate on the spindle 20. The spindle 20 passes through the hole 21 in the porcelain 5 and is preferably rigidly secured to the porcelain for instance, being provided with a screw-head 22 which fits in the recess 23 and also provided with a nut 24 adapted to be seated in a correspondingly shaped recess 25 in the porcelain. By seating the nut 24 in the recess 25 the spindle may be inserted from the rear through the hole 21 and screwed into the nut 24 so as to hold the spindle tightly to the porcelain. The operating ratchet member 26 is also mounted on the spindle 20 and a helical spring 27 is mounted on the spindle and has one end pressing against the operating member 26 and the other end engaging a notched nut 28 screwed onto the outer end of the spindle. The spring normally presses the operating member against the stop shoulder 29. The operating cord or chain, as it is commonly termed, 30 is secured to the operating ratchet member 26 and is adapted to oscillate the operating member against the tension of the spring. The shoulder 31ontl1e porcelain serves as a stop to the downward movement. The porcelain is preferably provided with a flange 32 which stands around the end .of the operating member adjacent the point of attachment of the chain so as to prevent the chain from being accidentally disengaged. The operating member 26 is provided with a flange 33 substantially at right angles to it which has two end portions 34 and 35 bent backward and a slot 36 to receive the chain.

The end 35 of the flange is preferably seyrs cured to the main arm of the operating member by means of a lug 37 riveted into a hole so as to prevent the end 35 from being distorted by the pull of the chain. The angular bend 38 serves to prevent the chain from being deflected outwardly at this'point and thus accidentally detached.

In the bottom of the shell I preferably providea chain guide 39 preferably of porcelain having a passage 40 for the chainand a neck 41 projecting through an opening in the bottom of the shell. The chain guide 39 may be held in place in the shell by spinning the metal around the neck 41 or by indenting the metal in any suitable manner or by simply springing it into the opening. The chain guide may also be provided with a shoulder 42 so as to-interlock with the lower end of the insulating switch block as indicated by the relative position and proportions of the parts as illustrated 'in Figs. 4 and 5. This insulating chain guide prevents the chain from coming into electrical contact with the metal shell of the socket.

The switch block is preferably provided with an integral flange 43 at the upper end which covers the upper part of the switch mechanism and serves to position the switch block in the shell. To prevent the parts from turning, the porcelain may be provided with an integral lug 44 which fits in a slot 45 in the upper end of the shell. In addition to this the shell may be provided with a lug 46 struck inwardly to engage one edge of the switch block as shown in Fig. 1.

An insulating lining 47 may be provided between the switch block and the shell which lining may be made in the form shown either of avtube of paper or fiber or of a strip rolled into tubular form. By this construction not only may the chain guide be formed inexpensively but the lining for the body of the shell can be made very cheaply and the parts can be readily assembled. Furthermore it will be noted that a number of means'are provided for holding the semi-cylindrical switch body in position in the shell so that in case one or more of the lugs or flanges should become bent or broken off there would still be other means forholding the parts in their proper relative position. The spindle 20 itself being rigidly secured to the switch block will serve to provide the switch block from turning over in the shell in case the upper flange 43 were broken off or otherwise omitted.

To insulate the switch cord from the cap, a fiber or paper lining 48 may be provided secured to the cap by one or more small rivets 49 the heads of which when formed will be embedded in the metal of the shell and in the material of the lining so as to be practically invisible. The switch circuit terminals 6 and 7 being on opposite sides of the switch block are spaced apart and completely insulated from each other. The upper end of the switch block is preferably cut away as at 50 and 51 for the circuit terminals.

In the form shown in Fig. 11 the insulating switch block 52 is provided with an upper flange 53 and a lower flange 54, the latter having a groove or hole for the chain. In this form the switch terminal 56 connected to the left hand switch contact (corresponding to contact 11 previously referred to) is arranged on the front of the switch block and the other circuit terminal (not shown) would be preferably located on the back. The form shown in Fig. 11 is also shown in my former application #657,780 filedOctober 31st, 1911.

Another feature of improvement in the preferred form of my invention is the spring 27. This is made in the form of a tapered helix larger at the base where it presses against the ratchet plate 26 and smaller near the outer end'where it engages the abutment 28. The small end centers the spring on the spindle and by flaring it out toward the base greater clearance is provided which prevents the spring from binding on the spindle. The larger, base also gives a better bearing on the ratchet plate.

\Vhat I claim is '1. In an electric socket switch, the combination of a cylindrical shell, a one-piece semi cylindrical insulating block fitting within said shell, switch contacts mounted on the face of said block, a circuit terminal mounted'on the face of said block, a circuit terminal mounted in the rear of said block, means for positioning the switch block in said shell and an operating chain passing through the lower end of said shell.

2. In a pendant socket pull switch, a shell having an opening in the bottom, an insulating chain guide seated in the bottom of said shell and having a projecting neck, an insulating block seated on said chain guide in said shell, pull switch mechanism carried by said block and an operating chain passing through said insulating chain guide.

3. In a pendant socket pull switch, a shell having an opening in the bottom, an insulating chain guide seated inthe bottom of said shell and having a neck projecting through the opening therein, an insulating block interlocking with said chain guide and suitable pull switch mechanism carried by said block and having an operating member passing through said chain guide.

4. In a pendant socket .pull switch, a porcelain block having a transverse opening, a spindle passing through said opening and secured to said block, two segmental switch contacts secured to said block onopposite sides of said spindle, a rotatable switch mem her on said spindle and two circuit terminals, one of said circuit terminals being mounted in a recess on the face of said block and, overlapping the base of one of said switch contacts and the other circuit terminal being. arranged in a recessin the rear of said block and electrically connected with the other switch contact.

5. In a pendant socket pull switch, a porcelain block having a transverse opening,

a spindle passing through said opening and secured to said block, two segmental switch contactssecured to said block on'opposite sides of said spindle, a rotatable switch member on said spindle and two circuit terminals, one of said circuit terminals being mounted in a recess on the face of said block and overlapping the base of one of said switch contacts and the other circuit terminal being arranged in a recess in the rear of said block and electrically connected with the other switch contact, said block having a flange integral therewith and over-stand ing the switch contacts.

6. In a pond ant socket pull switch, a semicylindrical insulating block having a laterally extending flange at its upper end, switch mechanism carried by said block beneath said flange and including an oscillating operating member and two shoulders integral with said block for limiting the throw of said oscillating member.

7 In a pendant socket pull switch, a semicylindrical insulating block having a flange integral therewith and laterally extending therefrom at one end, switch mechanism carried by said block beneath said flange and including an oscillating operating member and chain, said block having an integral wall beneath said flange forming a pocket for said oscillating member and its chain.

8. In a pendant socket pull switch, a shell having an opening at the bottom and a slot in its upper end a one-piece insulating block mounted in said shell and having a lug proecting laterally into said slot, switch mechanism carried by said block including an operating chain extending through said opening at the bottom and means in addition to said lug for holding said block in position. a

9. In a pendant socket. pull switch, a shell having an opening at the bottom, an insulating switch block mounted in said shell, switch mechanism carried by said block and including an operating member extending through said opening, a lug projecting from said block through said shell and a lug projecting from said shell and over-standing one edge of said block and means for engagmg the lower end of said block to assist in holding it in position.

10. In a pendant socket pull switch, a shell having an opening in the bottom, a porcelain chain guide seated in the bottom of said shell and having a neck projecting through said'opening a porcelain block seated on said chain guide in said shell, switch mechanism carried by said block,.said block having an integral flange at its upper end. and a tubular fiber .member surrounding said block inside of said shell above the insulating chain guide.

11. In a pendant, socket pull switch, a porcelain block 'having'a transverse passage with enlarged recesses-on opposite faces of said block, a spindle passing through said block and having a head in one recess, a nut in the other recess into which said spindle is screwed, the outer end of said spindle extending beyond said nut, switch contacts carried by said block on opposite sides of said spindle, a rotary switch member on said spindle, an oscillating operating member on said spindle, a nut screwed. on to the end of said spindle, a spring interposed between said nut and said oscillating member, a circuit terminal in a recess in the back of said block, a screw connecting one of the switch contacts .with said circuit terminal, a second circuit terminal in a recess in the face of said block and over-standing the base of the other switch contact and a screw passing through said block and screwed into said second circuit terminal.

12. Ip a pendant socket pull switch, a shell having an opening at the bottom, a porcelain chain guide seated in the bottom of said shell and having a neck projecting through said opening, a porcelain switch block positioned in said shell and seated on said chain guide and switch mechanism carried by said block and including an operating chain extending through said chain guide.

13. In a pull switch, a porcelain block, a spindle carriedthereby, an oscillating member having a flange at its outer end bent relative thereto, the ends of said flange being bent backward toward the center of said oscillating member and constituting yielding members and shoulders carried by said porcelain block acting as stops for the yielding portions of said oscillating member.

14. In a pull switch, an operating ratchet member having a flange integral with its outer end bent substantially at right angles thereto, the two ends of said flange being bent toward the axis of said ratchet member, said flange havin a slot extending through its two ends an its middle portion and a ball chain secured in said slot.

15. In a pull socket switch, a spindle, an operating member on the spindle, an abutment at oneend of the spindle and a spring surrounding said spindle, said spring being of tapered helical form and having its smaller end engaging said abutment and having its larger end engaging said operating member. FREDERIG BARR.

Witnesses:

Roar. S. ALLYN, E. BRADFORD. 

